Pneumatic tool

A fastener driving tool comprising:

• a hollow housing having first and second opposite ends;
• first end means for closing off said first end of said housing, said first end means having a first opening therein for communicating with the interior of said housing;
• a hammer longitudinally disposed within said housing along an axis which extends between said first and second opposite ends and which is aligned with said first opening, said hammer being movable lengthwise within said housing and along said first opening in said first end means between a first retracted position and a second extended position;
• means for driving said hammer from one to the other of its first and second positions, at least some of said means for driving said hammer being disposed within said housing;
• means for positioning a fastener where it may be engaged by said hammer so as to be driven from said first opening in said first end means as said hammer is driven from its first retracted position to its second extended position;
• metal washer dispenser means comprising (a) a rack having first and second opposite ends and guide means thereon for slidably constraining washers along said rack, said rack being mounted to said first end means so that said rack extends perpendicular to said axis in order that when said housing is oriented so that said axis is horizontal, gravity will urge said washers towards said first end of said rack, (b) a gate mechanism set at said first end of said rack for individually dispensing said washers from said first end of said rack, and (c) a holder adjoining said first end of said rack and adapted to receive said washers from said first end of said rack and releasably hold said washers one at a time in front of said first opening in said first end means by means of at least one magnet mounted to said holder, said holder being pivotally mounted to said rack and adapted to receive washers from said rack only when said holder is aligned co-planar with said rack, and said holder being provided with a central aperture which is aligned with said first opening in said first end means when said holder is aligned co-planar with said rack, and said central aperture is aligned with the center hole of a washer held by said holder when a washer is received by said holder;
• a safety mechanism for enabling the tool only when said holder is aligned co-planar with said rack, with said holder normally being biased away from the co-planar position but with said holder being capable of being forced into the co-planar position with said rack when said tool is engaged with a workpiece;
• a handle assembly coupled to said housing for positioning said tool, said handle assembly including means thereon for activating said means for driving said hammer and said gate mechanism in a coordinated fashion;
• and
• an automatic balancing mechanism coupled to said handle so as to suspend said tool relatively weightless.

A fastener driving tool comprising:

• a hollow housing having first and second opposite ends;
• first end means for closing off said first end of said housing, said first end means having a first opening therein for communicating with the interior of said housing;
• a hammer longitudinally disposed within said housing along an axis which extends between said first and second opposite ends and which is aligned with said first opening, said hammer being movable lengthwise within said housing and along said first opening in said first end means between a first retracted position and a second extended position;
• means for driving said hammer from one to the other of its first and second positions, at least some of said means for driving said hammer being disposed within said housing;
• means for positioning a fastener where it may be engaged by said hammer so as to be driven from said first opening in said first end means;
• and
• washer dispenser means comprising (a) a rack having first and second opposite ends and guide means within said rack for slidably constraining a plurality of washers along said rack and delivering them in series at said first end of said rack, (b) a gate mechanism for individually dispensing said washers from said first end of said rack, and (c) a holder adjoining said first end of said rack and adapted to receive said washers from said rack and hold said washers one at a time in front of said first opening so that each washer's center hole is substantially aligned with said first opening, said holder being provided with a central aperture therein able to pass a fastener therethrough, and said holder being pivotally mounted to said rack and adapted to receive washers from said rack only when said holder is aligned coplanar with said rack with said central aperture aligned with said first opening, said dispenser means also being adapted to (a) allow said fastener to engage said one washer after said fastener leaves said first opening in said first end means (b) release said one washer after said one washer is engaged by said fastener, and (c) position another washer in front of said first opening after depolyment of said one washer.